Friday, February 26, 2010

Protein Power for Yummy Mummy

I went to the shops with my Mama today and was so excited with what we found. Wild pepper leaves! It was quite embarrassing to see my Mama pinching and smelling the leaves to make sure it is really is daun kadok (Piper sarmentosum) and not daun sireh (betel leaves - Piper betle) that the sub-continent community over here use in their betel morsel (paan supari - areca nut and lime wrapped in betel leaves that produced a reddish juice when chewed).

My Mama said daun kadok physically looks like betel leaves but they are different in taste. Daun kadok is widely used in Malaysian Nyonya dishes such as otak-otak and perut ikan. In Thai cooking it is the main ingredient for Mieng Kam, (a starter dish consisting of dried prawns, peanuts, toasted coconut, shallots, chilli and fish sauce) in which daun kadok is used as a wrapper. It also has medicinal properties. People say the roots of daun kadok can be chewed to stop toothache.

"Hmmm...what do you think, Angelina?" Mama asked me.

"I think we should go to the fish shop and buy some mackerels," I said.

Daun kadok and mackerels - main ingredients to make one of my favourite fish concoction - Otak-otak Ikan Nyonya Style.

I'd like to dedicate this dish to Yummy Mummy aka Datin Huda aka Mamasita Mamamia. You need all the protein you can get for your aerobics marathon and what better way than to consume some yummy fishy concoction, OK.

5. Place at least 3 daun kadok overlapping in the centre of the lined ramekins, then spoon 2-3 heaped tablespoons of the fish mousse mixture on top.

Almost there Angelina...be patient...

6. Place steamer set on the stove, don't forget to put enough water in the bottom pot. I used a small 3-tier aluminium steamer set that Mama brought from her home country. Steamer is ready when water boils.

7. Place the ramekins in the top steamer rack and steam for approximate 20 minutes or until cooked and set. Make sure no water drips into the mixture as this will make the cooked otak-otak watery.

Best eaten while still hot. Served with salad or rice or use as sandwich spread.

20 comments:

Hi Cat, Holy Smoke! I have not eaten this can't even remember when.You know where I can find a nice Nyonya lady can make this? Ha ha. Ada lagi ke?Wow! Glad you got Black belt in cooking!Have fun and have a nice day, Lee.

Uncle Lee,If you can find daun kadok in Toronto, perhaps Mrs Lee can make this. I don't know any nice Nyonya lady but can I offer you an Aussie cat? Unfortunately this dish doesn't last long in our house....you know, that male cat we have...the glutton... purrr....meow!

Uncle Razee,Brain Brain...hahahah...lucky they didn't call it "baby poo"... you know how some stuffs are called "duck poo" and such. Come to our secret restaurant anytime. You reckon we can make money if we open a warong somewhere? purrr....meow!

I have lots of kadok growing happily in my backyard!! Please thank your Mama for the otak-otak recipe. That's what I'll make tomorrow for lunch. Today no masak. Both girls and the boy are out on various assignments.

Angie, next time if Mama wants more kadok, just gimme a buzz. Glad to send them over :)

Aunty Kay,Lucky you! It's not something we get to see everyday here. Unfortunately it won't pass Customs inspection if you send it to us. Thus, Otak-otak will always be something special to us. My Mama said the Sri Ayutthya in Damansara Heights makes one of the best Otak-otak she's ever tasted. Hmmm....now I'm hungry again. purrr....meow!

Not a fan of otak otak but LOVE Meng Kiam. Next time you find daun kadok, obviously not the home grown & Aussie cutoms rejected leaves from Kay's garden at Shah Alam, please make dedication of Meng Kiam for me pulak k. Purrrr...

Wow, what a talented kitty you are, Angelina! I think you should have your own cooking show on cable TV! Otak-otak used to be one of my favourite foods before I became vegetarian. Daun kadok is lovely. If you eat a lot of it, you get high. But judging by my own Rowdies here... cats often behave like they are intoxicated already anyway.

CO78,Hmmm...what should be the name of the show? Cat Can Cook? Wok with ANgelina? Angelina's Kitchen Rules? Perhaps we can make tofu otak=otak using the same ingredients. High on kadok...that explains Brad's weird behaviour. purrr....meow!

Knowing Me Knowing You....

I'm a cat! A very sober puttytat...meow meow meow...who's suffering coz she has to live with five spoilt brats! I used to live in Sydney, Australia but has since migrated lock stock and barrel to Malaysia.